They are cancelling their internet sales. Arai helmets can no longer be sold over the internet

 

yup. so you cant go try on a helmet at a store/dealer and then turn around and buy it online for cheap, thereby screwing the store/dealer. you come into their store and take their salesperson's time - you're gonna pay a little more to supplement his paycheck. it seems only fair. so i give it a

 

I'm with you on that. Authoried dealers know alot about fitting a decent lid and then find that the oik they have spent half the day with goes online.

 

it sucks how competition gets cut down so local shops and dealers can have such high mark-ups. When you find out what cost and retail pricing are on these helmets, you'll kick yourself in the head for not ordering from the internet. You could save over $100 on the RX7 helmet by buying it online. Bottom line, it comes down to retailers complaining about internet sale prices and how their losing money. Retailers should lower their prices!

 

When i bought my Quantum, i paid 360 shipped to my door. The local shops wanted over 450 +tax. I agree that the dealers are more knowledgeable regarding fit and sizing, but Arai has a website that explains it all- as do most reputable online sites. Arai helmets are great but i'm not going to fork over 600+ for their Rx-7s at a local dealership when i can get it for 500 shipped to my door-> bad move imo.

 

yea it really sucks how a guy can become a helmet distributer at his own house and have 0 overhead so making 100 bucks is worth his time. Vs my shop which has to pay employes, pay electrical bills, all that overhead in having a shop, so we have more costs to cover.

Yea that really sucks that my shop exists only as a fitting room to those ****** who open up businesses that way. I for one am glad that Arai did it. And I wish ALL of the helmet manuf would do the same. I have a distaste for Parts Unlimited because they lie about being Denis Kirk. Yes one of the dealer only distributers runs Denis Kirk.

And FYI, the mark up on those helmets is NOT what you think it is. Id say on average its about 150-170 dollars. Not really a high markup for the BEST helmet you can buy now is it. You pay a higher markup on smaller parts that are in some cases 100%. So quit your bitchin or dont buy an Arai. If your head isnt worth the 450-550 for a signet or a quantum or 600+ for an RX7RR4, then buy a KBC for 120 bucks. Your call.

 

obviously you know nothing about the motorcycle industry. Competition is NOT about opening a garage store with 100 profit because of no overhead. Thats called screwing the people who built the industry so some jackass can make a quick buck. And look at my previous post. You dont pay near the markup on an Arai helmet as you do on say gloves, boots, or any other smaller item.

 

Dude.. chill out.

How much my head is worth isn't any concern of yours and vice versa. If you think i'm bitching then easy, don't read the thread

I didn't go around the local dealer shops to try out the fitting. I did my research and found the type/model that fits me best. This is capitalism if u can't stand the heat then get out of the kitchen. and i've bought my helmet from a reputable shop, yes i said a SHOP, not some guy who works out of his basement, but a full fledged business. Now u tell me why should i go to a local shop who has been known to screw people over on high prices when i can buy from a business that has a stellar service record and at a lower price.

I don't care how much the mark up is on the helmet or how much $$$ they have to pay their employees. I'm, a customer not a shareholder; if the business isn't profitable then close down. Bottom line is if i can get it at a lower price from a good shop.. then why not?

 

you are missing the point and obviously dont understand capitalism and the business world.

wow. that could be THE WORST WAY TO BUY A HELMET EVER!!!! How can you trust your head to something you pay 360 or whatever internet price for and have never put your head in. If your so called "business" wanted to, they coudl leave you with whatever helemt you bought. Period. They dont have to return it if it doesnt fit right.
thats NOT capitalism. Thats called screwing over the people who put in the blood, sweat and time to build the motorcycle industry to where it is today. And using capitalism as an excuse and a **** poor one at that to defend making a quick buck. Without people like my bosses and others in the industry the motorcycle industry would still be in its infancy. And we all the internet is useless for building industry. Its really good at taking control of a thriving industry with its low overhead costs, but then it all goes down hill after the mom and pop stores are gone. They(internet) have no reason to keep up good service because they eliminated their competition in a monopolistic manor.
well if you cant buy an Arai helmet from them today, then they arent really a motorcycle dealer and have NO business in dealing motorcycle helmets.

So you expect to walk into a shop and be treated like god? Forget that. You have to work at establishing a relationship with the people in the shop. You cant expect to just walk in and have everybody wait on you hand and foot. You shop there, dont bitch about prices and most importantly, LEARN THE PEOPLE'S NAMES!!! and i bet you would be rewarded on a large purchase. All you have to do is ask. its like cashing in comps at a casino. We are more than willing to accomidate regular shoppers and customers. I will NOT stand for a guy walking in and saying " I want this helmet here, but I saw it on the internet for x amount lower. I want it for that. Will you do it? Most of the time the answer is no. But if I know who you are, you actually know my name, and treat me with respect, Ill certainly try and hook you up to the best of my abilitys. Can i match the price? Probably not, but Im sure I can get with in 20-50 bucks and you get it today without shipping.

if you dont care about the above then you dont understand capitalism. Look at this scenario. If the internet businesses ran all of the shops out of business, how do plan on getting a new bike. I dont know of 1 dealer that will operate without a parts department because I make up about 45% of my bosses income to the shop. if they cant have that 45%, then they wont be around.

Basically you are saying that you want a top of the line helmet for what you want to pay for it. With no reguard to how much the seller had to pay for it or any care about the technology costs that went into it.

Why shouldnt you? I can list a whole buch, but you are obviously not a loyal person so i wont bother. If you were loyal to someone reguardless of price9to a certain degree), you might understand. But since your loyalty lies with the person who has the lowest price, you would never understand. Therefore I will not waste my time on it.

Go to work in a service industry and then you will understand why it was done. You are just cheap and only look at one side of the coin.

Good day to you.


[Modified by B-DIDDYR2K, 12:33 AM 2/13/2002]

 

you are right, I know nothing about the motorcycle industry, but I do know that competition drives prices DOWN. I have to disagree with you about retailers making up the industry. Retailers are simply the last man in the loop that offer products to the customer directly. Some don't mind spending more, but for college students or anyone else that has a lot of expenses, pricing is very important. When I know what I already want, why would I go out and spend more money at a retailer when I can find it for less elsewhere? Why should I care about the retailer? I'm simply giving you the customer's view point. Obviously, you have a shop so you have primary concerns for your business, but I'm a consumer and have primary concerns on pricing. I wont spend more out of sympathy for a local shop, I have bills to pay too, so I have to look at my budget. Not everyone will order from the internet for fear of loss of warrenty or no customer service, but to those that know the pro's and con's of ordering from the internet should take advantage of the better pricing. As for making 100% profit, I can't see how an internet shop selling rx7rr4s for $420 is making 100% profit. It's all relative. It pisses me off when I overpay for a part that I could've gotten for less, so that's way I'm a tad bit bitter at paying for what I did for a rx7rr4 when I could've gotten it for less.

 

also, I'm sad to see how you interpret capitalism:
Capitalism is about putting the mom and pop shops out of business. Capitalism is about BIG business. When strings of walmart, costco, pizza hut or even McDonalds open up, they drive competition up between mom and pop shops. They lower prices to where mom and pop shops can't stay in business.

 

some people see the product as needing to be fitted to the customer, thus making Arai's decision justifiable. others see a helmet as a piece of equipment, that comes in generic sizes, and not necessarily required to be fitted.

the bottom line is if you don't like Arai's business practices, then you will have no problem boycotting them and you will be perfectly happy with a generically sized helmet that you can buy from anywhere, including zero overhead 'net stores. there are plenty of fine helmets out there.

if you're pissed about Arai's decision, and you're really vocal about it, then you must really like their product. they must be doing something right if it bugs you that much. but what else can you do but purchase it from an authorized dealer, or don't buy it. where you spend your money speaks louder than words on a forum.

Joe

 

**you are missing the point and obviously dont understand capitalism and the business world.**

You are right!! I don't understand all the INs and OUTs of capitalism -> hence i'm not in the business sector!

You are right! not trying on a helmet before buying isn't the best way to buy. But i'll take my chances. I don't go trying on helmets when i know i won't be buying from them. Thats disrespectful to the owner and salesman.

***So you expect to walk into a shop and be treated like god?***

I have no idea where u got this idea. I expect to be treated courteously as would you. As for learning their names, eehh.. i'm shopping not out to make life long friendships. You might be a die hard rider that shops for parts every other week but I am not! Everytime i go to a local shop, i just pick up motor oil, filter, and the basica maintenance stuff - the ordinary customer.

*** if you cant buy an Arai helmet from them today, then they arent really a motorcycle dealer and have NO business in dealing motorcycle helmets.***

eh? why should only motorcycle dealers be able to sell helmets? Did you bought your BELL/SIMPSONS/OMP or whatever brand racing helmet you use from a CAR DEALERSHIP??? Oh wait.. or how about those new S03, re10s, 712s from tirerack.com, which isn't a car dealership so i can't buy from them either!!

***Basically you are saying that you want a top of the line helmet for what you want to pay for it.***

No i don't expect to pay what I want for it.. I expect to get the best deal possible! Now u tell me, if you had a chance to buy your R for 20k as oppose to 25k would you???

*** If you were loyal to someone reguardless of price9to a certain degree)***

ahh yea.. and if that person jumps off the bridge u'll jump with him because you are LOYAL? This isn't about loyalty or Brand-preference, this is about being a good consumer.

***You are just cheap ***

I don't want this thread to become a trash-talking thread so please stop with the personal attacks Your financial situation is different from mines, you are willing to let 100-200 go, but as for me.. that 100-200 can go to something else.

***Go to work in a service industry ***

No thanks! I like the field i'm in

 

I'm not pissed about it, though it might seem otherwise. It just seems like they're making a bad business decision( of course what do i know, I didn't study business in college) You are correct when you said i can buy other products and i have- shoei & HJC.

Yes Arai's intentions are good. Good fitting helmets -> safer customers. But a lot of shops don't really care if the helmet bought really fits. If you want a Med when ur really a large, a good percentage of the shops out there will sell u that Med.

 

I am sure that a swift phone call to the Arai area Rep would sort that one. They dont like cowboys anymore than i do.

 

bad decision cause it benefits them and their distributors, and not the consumer's bottom line. correct? it seems like bad business at first, but they are resisting the drive to trivialize the value of the product by supporting their supply chain. in other words, if they didnt do this, then they would have to pop out helmets at a fevered pace to still make a profit as the prices fall on their products, thus they would have to sacrifice quality to remain competitive.

yes. its a bad capitalistic move. but it allows them to do what they want - which seems to be making an excellent product - while still remaining profitable.

my local dealer definitely cared. they put me in a different sized helmet from a different brand and i am grateful for that. i love my brainbucket.


we all might just have to agree to disagree. this drama has played out on all the motorcycle forums already.

 

True! Arai makes great products, and i love them. Most probably i will buy from them again or maybe the latest Shoei.

***my local dealer definitely cared. they put me in a different sized helmet from a different brand and i am grateful for that. i love my brainbucket.**

Cool! It is good to see that a business look out for its customers I'm not saying all my local shops are bad, but i've been to a few that didn't give a rats behind about my well being

**we all might just have to agree to disagree**

Agreed! To each its own

 

I paid 360 out the door at my local Honda dealer for my Arai Quantum F (Nakano) replica helmet.

 

I got a solid RX7RR4 from the dealer I worked at for 330 US ! HAHA!

I agree, you should go to a dealer and talk to them about fit. When you leave people to decide for themselves, they ALWAYS buy the wrong size.